THE National Government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is set to release P1.3-million livelihood grant to 52 former members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Zamboanga Peninsula.

The beneficiaries are the NPA rebels who surrendered to the 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Camp Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, said the former rebels underwent an orientation on August 6 in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. The orientation was conducted by the DSWD, through the agency's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Herrera said the orientation is in preparation for the release of livelihood assistance to them by the DSWD.

Herrera said the former NPA rebels have already undergone the required psycho-social activity conducted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

They have also availed themselves of the cash assistance -- P65,000 each -- through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, he added.

Herrera said the program of the DSWD is aligned with the mandates of Executive Order 70 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte and which seeks to institutionalize the Whole of Nation approach mandating the creation of a Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. (SunStar Zamboanga)